So, SunkenCiv, what’s the strategic advantage of a “fortlet” like this. Even though it could house a garrison and a small unit of cavalry, what else did it do. Would it provide temporary refuge from an uprising until help arrived? Was it really just a trading center with protective walls?
I read quite a bit, but still didn’t find the answers to these questions.
Thanks.
It was a long frontier, but distant from any meaningful settlements, so, no indigenous uprisings to worry about, and the garrison had unobstructed views, probably in all directions. They were a cavary force and could patrol and strike quickly if needed. Other forts of course existed along and (as here) out in front of the more than 900 mile Limes Arabicus. The barrier tended to funnel trade into Roman controlled gates across ancient existing routes.